Echinocereus viridiflorus-complex

[Weiser]

There are quite a few varieties of Echinocereus viridiflorus that show at least some degree of hardiness. Echinocereus viridiflorus var. viridiflorus being the hardyest. It can be found as far north as south western, South Dakota. It follows the front range of the Rockies south into Texas and New Mexico. The other varieties come from west Texas and eastern New Mexico.
The taxonomy is in flux (a muddle) with Echinocereus russanthus being given species standing recently, that could change again as it has in the past.

 Here are the varieties I am able to grow.

1 Echinocereus viridiflorus var. viridiflorus
2 Echinocereus viridiflorus var. davisii
3 Echinocereus viridiflorus var. corellii
4 Echinocereus viridiflorus ssp. cylindricus
5 Echinocereus russanthus

[McDonough]

Wow!  I might even make an exception to my "no growing plants with thorns" rule with the first one (all are nice), 1 Echinocereus viridiflorus var. viridiflorus, with those cherry red spines, like a little Christmas ball.

[Weiser]

Mark
It would be your best bet for success. They are charming and never get very large. With time they will form multi-headed clusters.
I am partial to Echinocereus viridiflorus var. cylindricus. The flowers in the picture do not do it justice. They are what I would term Rootbeer colored.

Here is a close up of var. cylindricus.
 

[McDonough]

Intriguing flower color indeed, "root beer barrels" of thorniness.  I see from your first photo of this one, there are some red spines too, but the large white spines look ARMED AND DANGEROUS 

[Hoy]

I somehow missed this one!
I remember growing some Echinocereus in my boyhood but they never had flowers with such subtle colors! Very charming and elegant.

[WimB]

Echinocereus viridiflorus growing here since 4 years unprotected outdoors and flowering for the third year in a row.

[Weiser]

You got a happy little plant there!
Mine are just budding up right now . I should have flowers in a day or two.

[Hoy]

Well, I have to try to get some more cacti to try in my climate, that's for sure!

[Weiser]

Well it's spring around here now and I have a couple of E. viridiflorus varieties coming into bloom. They are not at their peak yet but I can't resist posting a few shots.
Echinocereus viridiflorus ssp. viridiflorus

Echinocereus viridiflorus ssp. cylindricus

The ssp.. cylindricus is a large speciman at ten inches(26cm) tall with three heads whereas the ssp. viridiflorus is only two inches(5cm) tall. Quite a differance in size.

[DesertZone]

I bought this E viridiflorus and thought nothing about it until this thread and then I thought about the common name "green flowerd cactus".

[Weiser]

The two photos in your posting look like varieties of Echinocereus reichenbachii  to me.

I will venture a couple of guesses . Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. reichenbachii for the first and Echinocereus reichenbachii ssp. armatus for the second. They could be any of several other varieties however. There are no definite clearcut divisions in this species and a lot of  integration across it's range.
Look at the  Echinocereus reichenbachii complex posting about this species.

 http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=501.0
 

[DesertZone]

Thanks Weiser

[Andy71]

In the garden today viridiflorus var. viridiflorus. Very early, first bloom was May 26 last year.



Several of my own seedlings are going to bloom for the first time too

[RickR]

Why do all those buds ( ) make me think of Christmas lights?  Even the open flower makes me reminisce of similar old reflectors we use on the tree as a kid.

Bravo, Andy!

Are those self seeded little balls at the base of the plant?

[Andy71]

Are those self seeded little balls at the base of the plant?

They are! Surprised me when I first noticed them earlier this year. The plant has never made a fruit, the old buds always just dried up. I never sprinkled any there so it must have made a few